Collapsible egg-crate



UNTTED STATES PATENT lrrrcn.

MILLARD FILMORE PETERFISI-I, OF STAUNTON, VIRGINIA.

COLLAPSIBLE EGG-CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,627, dated April19, 1898.

Application filed June 2, 1897. serial No. 639,146. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MILLARD FILMoRE PE- TERFISH, residing at Staunton,in the county of Augusta and State of Virginia, have invented a new anduseful Improvementin C01- lapsible Egg-Crates, of which the following isa specification.

My invention has relation to certain improvements in boxes, and moreparticularly to that class known as collapsible boxes.

An object of the invention is to provide a collapsible box soconstructed that the several parts comprising the same can be easilyfolded together into a small compass.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible box, theparts thereof being so arranged that they are adapted to fold one uponanother and be secured together by suitable fastening means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible box orcrate having a partition or partitions to fold with the other portion ofthe box, so that provision is made for a number of compartments withoutin any way interfering with the folding of the box when the same is notin use and it is desired to store it away.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction and in combinations and arrangements ofparts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and specifically setforth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention,Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved box in operative position.Fig. 2 is a perspective sectional view on the lines 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig.3 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. a is a transverse sectionalview of the several parts of the box folded, also showing the fasteningmeans. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the box folded, thefastening means being re moved; and Fig. 6 is a general Viewillustrating the several parts of the fastening device separated.

Like letters of reference will indicate the same parts wherever theyoccur throughout the different views.

In the practical embodiment of my invention I have shown a box or crateformed of any desirable material, preferably of light wood, withmetallic ends and central partition, the same comprising the bottom A,sides B 0, ends D, and the lid or cover E. Side 0 is hinged to the underside of bottom A by hinges N, so as to swing outwardly and rest uponsaid bottom when the crate is folded,

while the ends D and side 13 are hinged to the upper side of the bottomby hinges G and F,respectively,and adapted to swinginwardly in foldingthe crate. Top E is hinged to the upper edge of side 13 by hinges J andis adapted to swing backwardly and rest thereon, as shown in Fig. 1.

Ends D carry hooks at their edges adjacent their upper ends to engagestaples I, carried by the sides B and O at their upper edges andadjacent their respective ends, so that the ends are secured to thesides, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The end pieces are hinged to the bottom A a short distance inward fromthe edge thereof, and secured to the side pieces at their ends are thestrips K, against which the ends are adapted to abut, so that outwardmovement.

of the same is prevented.

Hooks are carried by the side 0, adjacent its upper edge, to secure thecover in position upon the crate, said hooks being clearly illustratedin Fig. 1.

L is a central partition hinged to the side I B by hinges M, a strip orcleat being secured to side 0, against which the partition is adapted toabut at its opposite edge. This partition L folds upon the inner face ofside B when the crate is folded, and hinges F are so formed that whenthe side B is folded inward a sufficient space is left between themeeting faces of the hinged members to equal the thickness of the endpiece D and the partition L, so that said side and ends may be foldedinto the same plane, the end pieces and central partition being of verythin material. This construction is clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.

\Vhen it is desired to fold the crate, the hooks connecting the sidesand end pieces are unfastened, the side 0 is folded outwardly anddownwardly until it rests against the under side of bottom A, the ends Dare folded inward upon the upper surface of bottom A, the partition Lfolded against the inner face of side B, and said side folded downwardto rest upon the end pieces D, the top E being folded backward upon theouter surface of side B. In this position the passages P in the sidesand top are brought in line to receive the bolt Q, having the washer Rand the thumb-nut S, so that the parts are securely clamped together, asillustrated in Fig. 4.

Any desired number of partitions L may be provided, and should it not bedesired to use the same it may be swung around against the side B, asabove described, and secured thereto in any desired manner.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide anexceedingly cheap and simple construction of collapsible box that isadapted to carry any kind of merchandise or other goods, the same beingespecially adapted as an egg-crate.

By making the end pieces and central partition of metal they arerendered strong and neat and may be reduced in thickness, so that theycan be folded, as described.

Various slight changes might be made in the forms and constructions andarrangements of the parts described without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A collapsible box comprising the bottom, sides and end pieces, one ofthe side pieces being hinged at its lower edge to the bottom and adaptedto swing outwardly, the opposite side piece hinged to the opposite edgeof the bottom and adapted to swing inwardly, the end pieces hinged tothe bottom at its respective ends and adapted to swing inwardly, a lidhinged to the upper edge of the inwardlyswinging side and adapted toswing outwardly to rest upon the outer surface of said side, andsecuringmeans for uniting the ends and sides, substantially as setforth.

2. A collapsible box comprising the bottom, sides and end pieces, one ofsaid sides being hinged to the bottom and adapted to swing outwardly,the opposite side piece hinged to the opposite edge of the bottom andadapted to swing inwardly, the lid hinged to the upper edge of thelast-mentioned side piece and adapted to swing outwardly and rest uponthe outer surface thereof, the end pieces hinged to the bottom andadapted to swing inwardly, a partition hinged to the inwardly-swingingside and adapted to fold against the inner surface of said side, andsecuring means for uniting the ends and sides, substantially as setforth.

3. A collapsible box comprising the bottom, sides and end pieces, one ofthe side pieces being hinged tothe bottom and adapted to swing outwardlyand rest against the outer side of the bottom when folded, the oppositeside being hinged to the upper surface of the bottom and adapted toswing inwardly, a lid hinged to the upper edge of the last-men tionedside and adapted to swing outwardly and rest against the outer surfaceof said side, the end pieces being hinged to the upper surface of thebottom and adapted to swing inwardly and rest thereon, securing meansadapted to unite the ends of the side pieces when the box is unfolded,said lid, side pieces and bottom having openings which are adapted toregister when the crate is folded, and a bolt adapted to pass throughsaid opening and receive a thumb-nut for securing the parts together,substantially as set forth.

4. A collapsible box comprising the bottom A, the ends D hinged theretoand adapted to fold inwardly thereupon, the side 13 hinged to the uppersurface of the bottom and adapted to fold inwardly upon the end pieces,the hinges for said side piece being so formed that when said side pieceis folded inward it will rest flatly upon the ends D, side 0 hinged tothe bottom and adapted to swing outwardly, lid E hinged to the upperedge of side 13 and adapted to swing outwardly against the outer face ofsaid side, and fastening means adapted to unite the sides and ends whenthe box is unfolded, substantially as described.

MILLARD FILMORE PETERFISH.

Witnesses:

B. E. MIsHEM, G. A. GRAFTON.

